Jared Kushner, real-estate scion and owner of the New York Observer, has landed a new company president for the mini-media empire anchored by the salmon-colored weekly paper.
Former Spin Publisher Michael Albanese is the new president of the Observer Media Group and its related websites and spinoffs, including Betabeat, Gallerist and Commercial Observer.
Albanese was with Spin for six tumultuous years. He resigned Monday.
A company spokeswoman had not returned a call for comment by press time.
Albanese replaces former OMG President Christopher Barnes, who exited the same day in August as Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Spiers.
That sparked speculation that Kushner was cleaning house. The two both dismissed the talk at the time, insisting they were leaving to pursue separate ventures.
Barnes is said to be involved in an e-commerce wine site. Spiers, who was replaced by her No. 2 editor, Aaron Gell, has yet to resurface.